Mexicans have been able to enter Canada with just an electronic travel authorization since 2016, but now some Canadian politicians would like to see tighter restrictions. (Shutterstock)
Visa-free travel to Canada for Mexican citizens could soon come to an end, a Canadian cabinet minister indicated on Sunday, although Mexico could stave off the move via diplomatic talks.
Since 2016, Mexicans have been able to enter Canada by obtaining an electronic travel authorization, or eTA.
The lack of a visa requirement has led to an increase in the number of Mexicans seeking asylum in Quebec, according to the premier of that province.
“Mexican nationals represent a growing proportion of the asylum seekers arriving in Quebec, the possibility of entering Canada from Mexico without a visa certainly explains part of the flow of asylum seekers,” Francois Legault said in a letter sent to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week.
Legault urged Trudeau to take action over the flow of asylum seekers into Quebec and provide compensation for costs his government has incurred by taking them in. He said that Quebec’s services were close to “breaking point” due to an increase in the number of asylum seekers from Mexico and other countries.
Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc said Sunday that he and Immigration Minister Marc Miller were considering visas and other measures for Mexican nationals seeking to enter Canada.
Conservative politician Francois Legault of Quebec urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to implement a visa requirement for Mexicans. (Wikimedia Commons)
In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the minister said that he and Miller were looking for “the appropriate way to ensure that people who arrived from Mexico arrived for the appropriate reasons” and that the current arrangement “doesn’t become sort of a side door to get access to Canada” for residency purposes.
“We’re looking at a number of measures that would, in fact, put us in a position to have done what’s necessary to ensure that these flights directly from Mexico don’t become sort of an indirect way to get access to Canada and to claim asylum,” LeBlanc said.
Miller said Monday that the Canadian government is currently in talks with Mexico aimed at addressing the increase in Mexicans seeking asylum in Canada.
Data from Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board shows that Mexicans made 17,490 claims for asylum in 2023, up 134% from 7,483 in 2022.
Miller told reporters that Canada’s economy has benefited from looser entry requirements, but acknowledged the lack of a visa requirement for Mexicans as a likely cause of the increase in asylum claims.
“Mexico is one of our principal economic partners. So any measures that we would take [or that] we would contemplate, would require a diplomatic process that is not yet completed,” the immigration minister said.
“We acknowledge the problem; we acknowledge that Canada has to take action. But there’s some work left to do,” he added.
Miller also said that the rate at which Mexicans’ asylum claims succeed is much lower than the rate for nationals of other countries.
Refugee service providers in Montreal, Quebec’s largest city, have previously said that “Mexican families are fleeing violence, insecurity and a lack of jobs in Mexico,” The Canadian Press reported.
However, “Canada only grants asylum to people it believes cannot safely live in any part of their home country because officials are unable or unwilling to provide those conditions,” the news agency said.
Graciela Olivares at her home in Amatlan de Quetzalcoatl. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
With the prevalence of GM corn impacting the way people eat, learn how Mexico’s intercultural complexity and food wealth is preserved through chemical-free maize farming techniques long before “organic” became trendy.
Graciela Olivares, a 69-year-old woman from the small town of Amatlán de Quetzalcoatl in the Mexican state of Morelos, is known for continuing the tradition of the famous milpa, a millenary system based on polycultures that involves growing corn, beans and squash together in one place. For those fascinated by the richness and diversity of Mexican culture, corn is a key topic, as many historians argue that maize is also the cornerstone of Mexican civilization.
Graciela Olivares making tortilla. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
In fact, the milpa is the foundation of Mexico’s ancient cuisine, which was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2010. Maize, in particular, is found in many diverse forms such as atole, cereal, chilaquiles, chimole, esquites, huitlacoche, molotes, enchiladas, panuchos, peneques, pinole, sopes, tamales, tacos, tlayudas, and, of course, tortillas.
Graciela was born in Milpa Alta, one of the last rural areas within Mexico City. In the past, Milpa Alta was known for growing maize criollo, which was the main agricultural activity in the area. In recent years, however, Milpa Alta has become the country’s main producer of nopal, or cactus.
Graciela has fond memories of criollo corn, a type of maize that has been improved over thousands of years through selection and exchange between Milpa Alta’s inhabitants. Graciela grew up in a family where everyone helped cultivate the milpa, and this tradition continued when she moved to Amatlán de Quetzalcótal with her husband over 50 years ago.
However, things are changing, and the new generations no longer have an interest in working the land.
“The young people don’t see the value of this beautiful corn, of growing their own maize, which is natural, free of chemicals, healthy and delicious,” Graciela told Mexico News Daily.
An organic process thousands of years old
Graciela Olivares and a corn plant. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
For thousands of years, Mexicans grew criollo corn in a completely organic and healthy way. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), organic food is the result of an environmentally friendly agricultural process that does not use fertilizers, pesticides or chemicals on the soil that is harvested: exactly the way the milpa was managed at least until the middle of the 20th century.
According to Graciela, however, many of the villagers in Milpa Alta have stopped using criollo corn, adding insecticides to make the job easier. “I don’t like to use herbicides or chemicals, I feel that if I do, I am poisoning the earth,” she explained.
Without herbicides, Graciela and her assistants have to cut all of the weeds that grow around the milpa by hand — a much harder job. Even so, she feels she is doing the right thing.
Not only is Graciela a guardian of organic corn, but she is also a keeper of the ancient process of nixtamalization used to make tortillas. This process, which consists of adding limestone to a boiling pot of harvested maize, is over three thousand years old. This tradition increases the nutritional properties of corn like calcium, iron and vitamin B3.
During the nixtamalization process, chemical changes occur that make the dough more malleable. In addition, the kernel absorbs calcium and potassium. Heating nixtamalized tortilla dough causes changes in the corn’s main proteins, making the nutrients in the kernel’s endosperm more digestible by the human body.
“The criollo corn, [aided by] nixtamalization makes the tortilla delicious. [The process] also improves its taste, smell and texture. We need to share this knowledge: I think that you are less vulnerable making your own food this way,” said Graciela.
So, why are organic criollo corn and food processes like nixtamalization important?According to the Pan American Health Organization, Mexico leads Latin America in the consumption of ultra-processed products, at 214 kilograms of processed food per person per year. This is indeed a cause for concern, as studies have linked this consumption to diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Additionally, the use of pesticides in Mexico is alarming. According to the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), the most commonly used pesticides in Mexico are banned in 34 countries. This highlights the need for more sustainable and organic farming practices to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and protect both human health and the environment.
In this context, the people who preserve native seeds and practice traditional organic methods are indeed playing a crucial role. Not only are they preserving biodiversity and traditional knowledge, but they are also promoting healthier and more sustainable food production. These individuals can be seen as contemporary heroes, as they are contributing to the well-being of their communities and the planet as a whole.
A growing trend: conserving native seeds
The nixtamalization process. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
Graciela Olivares is not alone; in recent years, there has been a growing interest in preserving native seeds in Mexico. Projects like La Casa del Maíz keep more than 45 of the 64 criollo corn varieties in existence, according to the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry (SADER). The Mexican government has also documented at least 26 community seed banks across the country.
Furthermore, government initiatives such as the germplasm banks of the National Center for Genetic Resources (CNRG) play a crucial role in preserving criollo seeds. These initiatives ensure that the genetic diversity of crops is conserved for future generations.
Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Graciela and the support of government initiatives and organizations, Mexico’s criollo corn safeguards the cultural and culinary traditions of this country that have been passed down for thousands of years.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator of various media such as Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Naasón Joaquín García
is currently serving a 16-year sentence for sexual assault in a California prison. (Joaquín SanLuis/Cuartoscuro)
The leader of a Mexico-based megachurch, who is serving more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young followers, is now under investigation in the U.S. for possible money laundering and human trafficking, the newspaper Milenio reported on Monday.
Naasón Merarí Joaquín García was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport in 2019 and charged with 19 counts of sex crimes against children. He was convicted in 2022 after agreeing to plead guilty to three of the charges and is now being held in a state prison near Fresno, California.
State prosecutors said Joaquín García used his religious position to have sex with girls and young women, telling them it would lead to their salvation (or damnation if they refused).
Joaquín García remains the leader of the La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World), an evangelical church with five million worldwide followers that was founded in 1926 by his grandfather, Aarón Joaquín González.
Believers consider Joaquín García, 54, to be what he has deemed himself: an “apostle” of Jesus Christ. He took over the pulpit in 2014.
When the church held a service last August — with Joaquín García preaching via a video recorded in prison — it drew an estimated 500,000 people to Guadalajara, where the church has its world headquarters.
Luz del Mundo, or Light of the World, is an evangelical church based in Guadalajara. (Wikimedia Commons)
During the August service, Joaquín García spoke of sinners who have been “plunged into a field of guilt … due to a whim of the flesh … an unhealthy whim.” He added that he often turns to God seeking “mercy and forgiveness.”
Now, U.S. agents with the Department of Homeland Security are investigating Joaquín García for financing his luxurious lifestyle by diverting donations and tithes given to the church, as reported by Milenio.
The case, which is being prepared for trial, also claims the church failed to inform the U.S. Treasury of its income and history of large international money transfers, Milenio noted.
In 2020, Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) gave the Attorney General five complaints against La Luz del Mundo for money laundering, Milenio added. The UIF found that the church had made big purchases of vehicles, real estate and private security.
Moreover, a U.S. grand jury charged the religious leader last October with additional crimes: two counts of possessing and producing child pornography, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
That case stems from an iPad that Joaquín García had with him when he was arrested in 2019, which the FBI said contained videos depicting a 16-year-old girl engaging in sexual activity.
Joaquín García is serving a sentence of 16 years and 8 months at the California Institution for Men in Chino. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to two state counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15. In exchange, California prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to produce child pornography.
If convicted of the two new charges, Garcia would face 15 to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography and up to 10 years in prison for possessing it.
Mexico expects 5.4% more foreign tourists in 2024 thanks to the new Maya Train. (@GobiernoMX/X)
Mexico could welcome over 42 million international tourists in 2024 lured by the new Maya Train in the Yucatán Peninsula, according to Miguel Torruco Marqués, head of the Tourism Ministry (Sectur).
Speaking on Monday at a press conference of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, one of the world’s largest tourism fairs, Torruco said that Mexico expects 5.4% more foreign tourists than in 2023 and over US $32 billion in tourism revenue.
The Maya Train has transported an average of 800 people per day since its inauguration in December 2023. (@trenmaya/X)
He explained that Mexico aims to exceed the 38.3 million mark of tourists that entered the country last year, generating tourism revenue of US $28 billion with an average expenditure per tourist of US $1,155.
Furthermore, Torruco estimated that 22.4 million tourists would enter the country via air, representing a 1% increase over 2023 and a 14.3% increase over pre-pandemic numbers (2019 and earlier).
Torruco added that the increasing flow of international tourism in Mexico corresponds with enhanced air connectivity, as the country has recently added “412 new direct flights from anywhere in the world to Mexico,” he said.
In reference to the Maya Train and other tourist projects that the federal government has developed during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, Torruco said that these are targeted to a new “post-pandemic tourist that seeks fresh and innovative [tourism] products.”
The Tulum airport, opened in December, is also expected to increase international tourism to the region. (Mara Lezama/X)
“These projects seek to develop new products that cater to an increasingly educated and demanding consumer,” Torruco explained.
Ultimately, he said, the primary goal of López Obrador’s administration is to develop new tourism attractions that will generate greater economic benefits for the local population.
However, a month after starting operations, the Maya Train has had some glitches. Online ticket sales were suspended over the weekend, and there were reportedly mechanical difficulties on Friday on the section between Campeche and Cancún that caused delays for passengers.
The National Defense Ministry (Sedena) hasn’t yet given a reason for the temporary suspension. Tickets are available now for sale on the Maya Train website.
At FITUR, Torruco expressed his desire for the Maya Train to offer a unique experience that will allow visitors to connect with nature and learn about the archaeological sites of the Maya civilization. As of Jan. 8, the train had transported 15,500 people on 144 trips, averaging 800 people per day, mostly national tourists and local residents.
Authorities seized a significant number of weapons, including AK-47s, and tactical gear, as well as SUVs and pickup trucks following the confrontation. (FGE Sonora/X)
Police in Sonora killed 12 suspected criminals on Saturday after they came under fire on the Hermosillo-Bahía de Kino highway, authorities said.
The shootout occurred Saturday afternoon after police detained a man identified as Carlos Humberto “N” on drug trafficking charges, according to a statement from the Sonora Attorney General’s Office (FGJE).
The convoy was attempting to liberate Carlos Humberto, the son of a powerful local crime lord. (Antonio Nieto/X)
Armed men traveling in a convoy of vehicles were apparently aiming to secure the release of Carlos Humberto, who the FGJE said is the son of Jesús Humberto “N,” a criminal leader known as “El Chubeto,” who was detained in 2021.
Carlos Humberto Limón, as the suspect has been identified in media reports, is linked to a crime group called Los Cazadores (The Hunters). The Infobae news website reported that Los Cazadores used to work with Los Chapitos, the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The FGJE said that state police came under attack just minutes after Carlos Humberto was detained on the outskirts of Hermosillo. It said that a “code red” alert was issued and that security forces of all three levels of government responded.
Clashes between police and the armed men subsequently occurred “at different places” on the Hermosillo-Bahía de Kino highway, the FGJE said, adding that “12 criminals were neutralized,” while seven others, some of whom were presumed to be wounded, “managed to escape.”
Sobre la carretera Hermosillo-Bahía de Kino se registró un fuerte enfrentamiento armado en el que 12 presuntos sicarios fueron abatidos. pic.twitter.com/E0u1ATBfmD
Two state police were wounded in the shootout and taken to hospital for treatment, the FGJE said, adding that their injuries weren’t life threatening.
Ten of the 12 men killed in the gun battle tested positive for cocaine, the FGJE said, adding that some of them also had marijuana, amphetamine and methamphetamine in their systems.
“Firearm residues” were detected on the bodies of all of the deceased, indicating that they fired at least one of 22 weapons that were seized by police.
Those weapons included AK-47s, AR-15s and FN Scars, as well as an extremely powerful Barrett .50 calibre rifle. Police also confiscated ammunition, other weapons paraphernalia and tactical gear, as well as six recent-model SUVs and pickup trucks.
The FGJE said Sunday that state police and municipal and federal security forces were contributing to an operation “in the rural western area of Hermosillo” aimed at locating and capturing “the seven criminals who have not yet been detained.”
Located north of Sinaloa and south of the U.S. state of Arizona, Sonora is situated along a trafficking route for both drugs and undocumented migrants.
In 2023, the state recorded the 9th highest number of homicides among Mexico’s 32 federal entities with 1,403, according to federal government data.
Cold front 29 will cool down the north and center of Mexico this week, with rain clouds likely. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Wintry conditions will continue across much of Mexico this week, as the short-lived but intense Cold Front number 29 brings possible sleet and snow to five northern states, and strong winds and heavy rains to many other parts of the country.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) predicts snow for the mountains of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa and Sonora, with temperatures falling as low as -10 degrees Celsius. Icy conditions are also predicted for high-altitude areas of Coahuila, México state, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
Residents are advised to wrap up well, stay hydrated, avoid sharp changes in temperature and look out for children and the elderly.
In lower-altitude areas, intense rains (75-150mm) are predicted in parts of Baja California, very heavy rains (50-75mm) in parts of Sonora, and heavy rains (25-50mm) in parts of Campeche, Chihuahua, Quintana Roo and Yucatán — causing flood risks in river basins. Light rains and scattered showers will also be seen across central and northern Mexico.
Conditions for tornado formation are currently present in many northern states, as gusts reach maximums of 80 kilometers per hour in Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Zacatecas, and 60 kilometers per hour in Aguascalientes, México state, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit, Puebla and Querétaro.
The coasts of Tamaulipas and Veracruz will see southerly winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and waves 1-3 meters high. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula will see similar conditions, with winds from the north and east, respectively.
Maximum temperatures on Monday will reach 40 degrees Celsius on the coasts of Chiapas, Jalisco and Oaxaca, and in parts of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán and Nayarit.
The weather in Mexico City will be cloudy with light to moderate wind, and temperatures ranging from 9 to 23 degrees. The surrounding mountains could see ice and cloud banks, particularly in the early morning.
Fend off the flu with these natural Mexican remedies. (Shutterstock)
My mom was a hippy, of sorts. The moment I felt a tinge of flu, out came the echinacea. I would beg for something I considered “normal,” like Benadryl or Triaminic, because it worked fast and that’s what my friends too and once in a while, she caved and begrudgingly gave me a small cup of the sugary red syrup. While it usually suppressed the symptoms, it mostly left me drowsy and unhealed.
The echinacea, much to my childhood chagrin, didn’t.
Decades later, I am now officially a clone of my mother, offering concoctions of boiled ginger or crushed herbs to friends who would much rather down a Tylenol for their ailments. In Mexico, however, I’ve met more of “my own kind” than ever before, and am now comfortably surrounded by new friends who opt for traditional remedies over pharmacy visits at the first sign of illness.
This prompted me to investigate. What alternative remedies are most popular in Mexico? After interviewing four locals (and one nutritionist), I’ve compiled a list of the most common traditional cures recommended by Mexico’s top medicinal expert — the all-knowing abuela. If you’re feeling sniffly and you want to combat that incoming cold the natural way, this article is for you.
All the essentials can be found in your local market. Whenever possible, buy organic to avoid unnecessary pesticides that could counteract the desired health benefits.
So grab your shopping bag and some pesos and embark on your journey toward natural healing, the Mexican way!
What ingredients do I need? Ginger, honey, garlic, lime.
What does it do? Clears a cold.
How do I take it? As a tea, bring chopped ginger and a few garlic cloves to a boil. Leave the flame on high until the flavor starts to seep out. Turn off the stove, allow the water to settle, and add generous amounts of honey and fresh-squeezed lime. Drink the mixture several times a day.
What are the traditional health benefits? Ginger eases nausea, boosts the immune system, and works as an anti-inflammatory. Garlic, especially in raw form, is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Honey, also an antibacterial, is considered a cough reliever and an excellent source of antioxidants.
Recipe courtesy of Pao’s mother and Michell’s abuela, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Tequila.
What does it do? Sweats illness out.
How do I take it? Heat the tequila in the microwave until it’s hot but still drinkable and, well, drink it!
What are the traditional health benefits? Tequila, or more specifically, agave, is said to kill bad bacteria.
Recipe courtesy of Lu’s abuela, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Filtered water, salt, baking soda.
What does it do? Clears a runny nose.
How do I take it? As a nasal rinse. Dissolve salt and baking soda in hot water. Avoid tap water, as it may be home to various bacteria. Allow water to cool to room temperature and snort it up your nose. If that feels intense, invest in a nasal rinse bottle.
What are the traditional health benefits? This mixture will flush out extra mucus and allergens in the nasal cavity. Baking soda has antifungal properties and reduces inflammation. Salt thins the mucus and moisturizes nasal passages.
Recipe courtesy of Lu’s mother, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Honey and lime.
What does it do? Heals a sore throat.
How do I take it? Swallow a spoonful of honey with several drops of lime juice.
What are the traditional health benefits? Honey’s antibacterial and nutritional perks are enhanced by immune-boosting Vitamin C levels and inflammation-reducing antioxidants found in fresh lime juice.
Recipe courtesy of Melina’s abuela, Veracruz born-and-raised
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. The writer and Mexico News Daily assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content on this site. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding the use or any other substance for medical purposes, as well as consider their jurisdiction’s applicable laws and regulations.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
The Mexican delegation met with high-level members of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. (SRE/X)
The joint efforts of Mexico and the United States to reduce the number of migrants arriving at their shared border have yielded “positive results,” U.S. officials told their Mexican counterparts at a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
A delegation of senior Mexican officials led by Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena traveled to the United States capital to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other high-ranking members of the Biden administration.
Alicia Bárcena met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday. (SRE/X)
“During the meeting, Secretary Blinken and the U.S. delegation noted that our coordinated efforts with Mexico are demonstrating positive results at our shared border,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement published Saturday.
The U.S. officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, “discussed the positive impact of efforts to increase migration controls on bus and train routes, crack down on criminal smuggling networks, and scale up repatriations for those who do not have a legal basis to remain in our countries,” Miller said.
The meeting came three weeks after Mexican and U.S. officials discussed migration in Mexico City, after which they noted that their “ongoing cooperation” includes “enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing the work to promote legal instead of irregular migration pathways.”
The United States closed several border crossings in late 2023 due to a surge in migrant arrivals, but four crossings opened in early January, a week after the migration meeting in Mexico City.
The U.S. says that increased enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities have meant a reduction in encounters at the U.S. border. (Cuartoscuro)
In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly had over 300,000 encounters with migrants who crossed into the United States between official ports of entry, but numbers have declined so far this month.
AZPM, a southern Arizona affiliate of PBS and NPR, reported last Thursday that “the number of migrants apprehended in Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector last week was just over 9,000, which is less than half what it was a month before, when the sector was seeing record highs.”
CNN reported Jan. 12 that “the number of migrant encounters in Eagle Pass, Texas — very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis — has dropped significantly, from thousands of apprehensions daily a few weeks ago to about 500 a day this week.”
It noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had attributed a decrease in migrant encounters all along the 3,145-kilometer-long border with Mexico to:
Enhanced enforcement actions by Mexico, including on trains and buses.
Mexico moving migrants along the country’s northern border to the southern border.
Mexico reinstating deportations of Venezuelans.
In an interview with AZPM, Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute, noted that Mexico ramped up deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants following the Dec. 27 meeting with U.S. officials, and added migrant checkpoints on its southern border with Guatemala and in other parts of the country.
After Friday’s meeting, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement that Bárcena had “reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to addressing the root causes of migration and promoting regular migration.”
The foreign minister “expressed appreciation for the joint work done with the U.S. to address the issue for the benefit of our peoples, and stressed the importance of working with other countries in the region to make migration safe, regular, orderly and, above all, humane,” the statement said.
Bárcena (center left) was accompanied by Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez (center right), National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval (far right) and the director of Mexico’s immigration institute, Francisco Garduño (second from left). (SRE/X)
The Mexican delegation, which also included Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez and National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval, also “highlighted the country’s great effort to address the root causes of migration, in particular, the development program in which US $180 million will be invested in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti,” the SRE said.
The ministry added that the Mexican and U.S. governments agreed to conduct a joint visit to the Darién Gap “to understand the issue of migration in that region.”
Further north in Guatemala — a country that is both a source and transit country for migrants — new president Bernardo Arévalo took office last week.
The SRE said that Mexico and the United States “will seek a meeting with the new foreign minister of Guatemala to explore the best ways to strengthen our cooperation” on the issue of migration.
According to Miller’s statement, Blinken, at last Friday’s meeting, “highlighted the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala as one of the most significant developments in the region since” the Dec. 27 migration meeting in Mexico City.
“In close collaboration with the Government of Mexico, the United States stands ready to support the people of Guatemala and their new government on a wide range of issues including economic development and hemispheric migration management,” the State Department spokesman said.
“… Migration is a hemispheric challenge. The United States is committed to work hand in hand with Mexico and countries across the region to address the root causes of migration and advance economic opportunities in the spirit of Los Angeles Declaration for Migration and Protection,” Miller added.
The truck's passengers were U.S. citizens according to reports from local authorities. (X)
A soccer game ended in tragedy in Torreón, Coahuila, on Sunday night, when a pickup truck veered off the road into a crowd of fans, killing one person and injuring several others.
The accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. outside the TSM Corona stadium, following a LigaMX soccer game between the teams of Santos Laguna, from Torreón, and Rayados, from Monterrey.
The tragedy occurred outside of TSM Corona stadium, home of the Santos Laguna soccer team. (@cursorenla/X)
Witnesses reported seeing a dark gray pickup truck with Texas license plates speeding north on the San Pedro highway before veering into the left-hand lane, colliding with a yellow taxi, then plowing into a group of Monterrey fans outside the TSM parking lot.
According to media reports, four men and two women were injured, some of them seriously. In the early hours of Monday morning,LigaMX confirmed that one person had died, whom local media identified as a 50-year-old woman.
At least four people were taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment, with injuries including fractured bones and head trauma. One of the injured was a 14-year-old boy, who is reported to be in stable condition.
Agents of the Coahuila State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) arrested two women of U.S. nationality at the scene, who are believed to have been passengers in the pickup truck. Authorities have not yet announced the identity of the driver.
“Those allegedly responsible have been detained and put at the disposition of the local authorities,” LigaMX said. The statement also expressed condolences to the deceased person’s family, and support and solidarity for the other victims.
The Coahuila FGE stressed that the incident is being treated as a road accident, denying rumors on social media that it was triggered by a fight between fans. Someminor disturbances were reported during the game, at whichRayados beat Santos 2-0.
“The board of Santos has been in direct communication with state authorities, as well as with the boards of Rayados and LigaMX, to make available all of their resources and information, to help clarify the events and determine responsibilities,” LigaMX said.
Costalegre is a coastal area in the state of Jalisco that extends south from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo.(Meagan Drillinger)
We can all agree that Mexico’s beaches are the stuff of paradise — and it’s that dream of paradise that brought so many of us to Mexico in the first place. We are not alone in thinking this, as Mexico attracted almost 20 million tourists in 2023. While tourism can do a lot of good for a destination, it is often difficult to ignore the issues it creates, particularly for the environment and the social inequities it can cause.
Wouldn’t it be great to visit some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches with the full confidence that where you are visiting is truly taking care of the environment and the people who live on the land?
That destination is the Costalegre, and if you have yet to hear of it, you certainly will in the coming year.
I live in Puerto Vallarta, and while I could not imagine living in another beach destination in Mexico, it’s very difficult to gloss over the environmental and social toll tourism has taken.
Where is Costalegre?
Las Rosadas, Mexico. (Meagan Drillinger)
Costalegre is a coastal area in the state of Jalisco that extends south from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo. It’s a roughly 150-mile stretch marked by wild, undeveloped beaches, hidden coves, thick jungle, spiny mountains, and small towns and villages. For me, it is the most spectacularly beautiful place in Mexico and one that I needed to see to believe.
Mexico has its fair share of destinations that have allowed tourism to spiral at the demise of the local communities and environment, though many are working to correct what has gone wrong. This is a global issue.
But what I love most about Mexico’s Costalegre is its attempt to stop that toxic pattern before it can even begin, prioritizing sustainability as it slowly, but surely, grows in popularity. It’s a destination that makes me feel truly good, in all senses of the word.
Costalegre and sustainability
With a dramatic landscape bookended by two international airports, one can’t help but wonder why dozens of developers have not snapped up this land. The answer lies in the hands of a few select families who have owned parcels of land for decades — and have promised to protect them.
Sustainability has been a buzzword for many years, but it often gets lost under the guise of greenwashing. Resorts tout sustainability efforts like the removal of single-use plastics, an onsite herb garden, and lower-flow showerheads. Those are all parts of being sustainable but can be rather surface-level when it comes to actually benefiting local communities and the environment in the long term.
This is where Costalegre is an exceptional example of how tourism can grow but with deep care, intention, and mindfulness.
It started in the late 1960s when Italian businessman Gianfranco Brignone flew his tiny plane over the coast of southern Jalisco. Then the landscape was raw, wild, rugged, and untamed. It was crashing surf thundering down on golden, crescent-shaped bays, with thick jungle-covered mountains climbing off into the distance. Brignone knew he had to create something beautiful here, all the while keeping it as close to pristine as the place he fell in love with. That vision became Careyes, a quiet, secluded posh playground of cliffside casitas, beachfront bungalows, and private villas, fostering an off-beat community of art, wellness, and creativity.
Now almost 60 years later, Careyes boasts a thriving social scene among well-heeled jet-setters. But what has remained is the pristine landscape and the integrity of the small villages surrounding it, which have stayed almost entirely untouched. This was by design. In 1994, Careyes became part of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, a 35,000-acre protected natural area. Part of this agreement meant that 93 percent of the land within the compound was to be protected, and to this day it has stayed almost entirely untouched.
Careyes is a quiet, secluded posh playground of cliffside casitas. (Meagan Drillinger)
Brignone set a remarkable precedent, and those who purchased land after him followed. One co-founder of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve was Sir James Goldsmith, an Anglo-French financier and politician who, like Brignone, became enamored with Costalegre. He, along with the National Autonomous University of Mexico established the reserve and Goldsmith constructed a spectacular 40-room estate on one of its many beaches.
Today the funky, golden-hued Cuixmala resort, known for its quirky onion dome, is one of the leading hotels in the Costalegre. But it is also one of the trailblazers of sustainability in Mexico. As far back as 1988, it launched the Cuixmala Ecological Foundation to bring both educational programs to local communities and protect the land from over-development.
In the wake of Careyes and Cuiximala followed the smaller-scale Las Rosadas, a nearly 400-acre ocean villa community along the Bahia de Chamela, with five clifftop villas, one beachfront bungalow, and a secluded stretch of gorgeous beach with palm groves, palapa-topped open-air living rooms, and a barefoot luxe vibe. A large portion of the land at Las Rosadas is part of the biosphere, as well.
International brands arrive in Costalegre
The latest resort to open along the Costalegre was the buzzy, splashy Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, which made its debut in 2023. Its opening set a different tone for the Costalegre. Four Seasons was the first international brand to open there and with that came the beam of the international spotlight, something which many of the already-established resorts along the corridor have tried to avoid.
But with the globally recognized name also came the promise of commitment to the ethos of the area. The resort sits on 3,000 acres of nature reserve, only 2 percent of which can be developed. Much more sustainably than an on-site herb garden, Four Seasons Tamarindo has a 35-acre low-impact farm. Helmed by culinary director Nicolas Piatti, Rancho Ortega has planted more than 8,000 plants, has a 1,300-square-foot greenhouse, raises its livestock sustainably, and has a zero-food waste policy that consists of both worm composting and the help of some resident garbage disposal units in the form of pigs.
Lastly, there is Xala, the latest development to slowly stretch its roots along the Costalegre. From the same developers who opened One&Only Mandarina in Nayarit comes a 3,000-acre, $1 billion development. But like its Costalegre predecessors, one of the primary focuses of Xala is the local community and the environment.
The project is still in development. When it is completed it will be home to residences, a brand-new Six Senses resort, estates, and even a hostel. But what has already been established at Xala is programs and infrastructure to enrich the local community. These programs include mango farms, a skate park for local kids, mental health facilities for schools, a reforestation project, and year-round potable drinking water for homes in the region.
The future of Costalegre
I have to stop myself before I make Costalegre sound like Utopia — although for me, compared to most other beach destinations in Mexico, it is one. But I cannot help but be skeptical as we watch destination after destination succumb to over-development. Part of the expansion programs in Jalisco include a Costalegre international airport and an expanded highway. How can things not become more crowded? How can this quiet coastline not get a little bit louder?
Granted, these plans have been in discussion for at least the 15 years I’ve been covering Mexico and have yet to come to fruition. According to Gabriel Cardona, tourism director for the Costalegre, the airport is finally ready to open in mid-2024. When, and if, it does, let’s hope that Costalegre continues to lead by example and that other developing destinations in Mexico follow.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
